Sleeve guard



NW. 11, 1-947. ST. PIERRE 52,430,745

SLEEVE GUARD F il ed June 22, 1946- INVENToR. -wry 67. Emma Patented Nov. 11, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLEEVE GUARD.

Henry St. Pierre, Worcester, Mass.

Application June 22, 1946, Serial No. 678,664

1 Claim.

This invention relates to sleeve guards which are particularly adapted for protecting the left sleeve of the wearer when applying or removing tire chains at the right-hand rear wheel of a vehicle and for protecting the right-hand sleeve while applying or removing chains at the left-hand rear wheel of a vehicle and the objects of the invention include the provision of a thumb attachment for this protector as used for the purpose above described or for any other purpose which may be found convenient.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of a sleeve guard which is made of flexible material in a form to be slipped over the forearm and being creased at opposite edges so as to lie flat when not in use, there being provided a thumb strip at one end thereof, said strip being flatly secured at both ends thereof to the material of the sleeve guard at opposite sides of one of the creases so that when the forearm is inserted in the sleeve guard, the thumb will naturally extend between the thumb strip and the one of the creases above described so that it is not necessary to fumble around trying to get the thumb into the thumb strip.

The combined sleeve guard and protector are of generally tubular form adapted to lie flat when not in use but to be expanded for the ready insertion of the arm and hand of the user to serve as a sleeve protector when applying or removing chains. The guard comprises two elongated side members hinged together along substantially straight longitudinal edges formed by creasing the material at said edges and having also substantially straight end edges, the sleeve being open at the ends and being sufiiciently flexible so that the side members may be opened up to tubular form to permit insertion of the hand and arm of the user, but being sufficiently stiff to retain the creased form and to provide a guide for the thumb of the user along one longitudinally edge of the guard. A thumb strap projects beyond one end of the sleev and is secured at its ends to the side members thereof a sufficient distance below one of the longitudinally creased lines so that the thumb of the user will be automatically guided into the thumb strap as the arm is inserted into the sleeve.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a sleeve guard according to the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing the sleeve guard open, and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the sleeve guard open, parts being broken away.

The sleeve guard of the present invention comprises a flexible hollow tube II) which is creased to form edges I2 and I l. The wrist end of the sleeve guard is preferably somewhat restricted as at l6 as compared to the elbow or upper arm end l8.

The creases I2 and I4 provide that the sleeve protector will lie fiat when not in use but will easily open up when it is desired to thrustthe hand therethrough.

Adjacent crease l2 at the wrist end of the device there is attached a thumb strip 20. This thumb strip is attached interiorly of the sleeve guard as at 22, one end of the strip being secured at each side of crease l2 as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

When the sides of the sleeve guard are separated, preparatory to thrusting the arm thereinto, the thumb strip 20 naturally opens up to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and the thumb will just as naturally extend between the thumb strip and crease l2 to more or less securely anchor the sleeve guard in the desired position. The thumb strip may be narrowed at its center portion 24 so as to more easily provide for insertion of the thumb without any interference from the strip 20.

It will be seen that the above described sleeve protector is extremely inexpensive to manufacture, easy and simple to apply to the forearm, and held in sleeve protecting position by the thumb engaged with the thumb strip 20, while at the same time the hand will extend outwardly into a position to be free for any operation desired.

It has been found in use that this sleeve protector is particularly useful in the application and removal of tire chains and it will be clear that the sleeve protector is used on the right arm when working on the left rear wheel of a vehicle and on the left arm when used for working on the right rear wheel of a vehicle. Also, it is cheap to make and folds or rolls for storage or as packaged for sale.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than is set forth in the claim, but what I claim is:

A sleeve guard and protector of generally tubular form adapted to lie fiat when not in use but to be expanded for the ready insertion of the arm and hand of the user to serve as a sleeve protector when applying or removing tire chains, said guard comprising two elongated side members hinged together along substantially straight longitudinal edges formed by creasing the material at said edges and having also substantially straight end edges, the sleeve being open at the ends and being sufliciently flexible so that the side members may be opened up to permit insertion of the hand and arm of a user but suftibiently stiff to retain the creased form and to provide a guide for the thumb of the user along one longitudinal edge of the guard, and a thumb strap projecting beyond one end of the sleeve and secured at its ends to said 15 side members a suificient distance below one of said longitudinally creased lines so that the thumb of the user will be automatically guided into said thumb strap as the arm is inserted into the sleeve.

HENRY ST. PIERRE.

REFERENCES CITED FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain May 3, 1928 Number 

